KSRTC to get more CNG buses

After a trial run of more than two months, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation is all set to procure more CNG buses. A tender for 10 fully-built CNG buses of BSIV emission norms has been floated by the KSRTC.

The KSRTC had begun conducting the trial run of the first CNG bus on March 22 in Kochi.

The corporation has made a few changes in the in the tenders for CNG buses. The bus used for trial run had four cylinders, and a capacity to carry 60 passengers. The tender floated by the KSRTC specifies that the buses need to have six cylinders, which could increase the capacity to 90, including 30 standing passengers as well. With a single filling of the fuel tank, the bus can cover a minimum distance of 320km. The KSRTC is planning to operate in all kinds of routes of KSRTC, including in high-range areas.

“The buses will be economical. The operating cost of diesel buses is Rs 86kmpl, while it is Rs 48 for CNG fuel. Since, fuel stations are available only in Ernakulam, the new buses will be operated only in the district. After setting up more CNG fuels stations in other districts, the buses will be allotted to respective depots,” said an official from technical wing of KSRTC.

“We were informed that the generator in these buses heats quickly and that they incur high maintenance cost after a few years of operation. So, initially we have invited tenders for only 10 buses,” said sources from KSRTC mechanical wing.

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